UNIT-2
THE CULTURE OF USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
LESSON -1
2.1. The concept of digital technology
What is meant by “digital technology”? Digital technology refers to the use of computers, tablets,
mobile phones and digital and social media that are accessed on those devices through internet. The
concept of digital technology may also involve new communication technologies that could have
significant effects on the political, economic, social and cultural life of the societies. Digital
technology plays significant roles in transferring information and data quickly from one section of
the world to another and among individuals as well. This can be taken place through the use of
mobile application, social media platforms and digital marketing websites.
Today we live in the age of digital technology in which our life heavily relies.
Digital technology was started in the mid-20th century and now it has become the most significant
modern technology not only in developed countries but also in developing countries including Ethiopia.
The use and application of digital technology is crucially important in our day to day life, especially for
communication speed, learning opportunities, social relation and money exchange in the finance secto
LESSON 2
2.2. Culture and digital technology
Culture and technology is the major factors that can shape our world outlooks. They are two equal
forces that greatly influence our attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and our understanding of good and bad
in different ways. Society’s cultures are the bases of human civilization and technological
advancement. This implies that cultural values of the society and modern technologies are very
interdependent. When new technologies are introduced into a society, the culture reacts in either
positive or negative way.
Cultural development and digital technologies are directly interlinked in terms of making accessible
one’s cultures to others. The essential way to live in societies and to maintain one’s culture is to
communicate through which cultural elements are shared. Communication technologies used to
share ideas and feelings through which culture is learned, transmitted and preserved. This
enables us to promote our own cultural values and also to know the cultures of other societies.
Therefore, it is difficult to promote and preserve one’s own culture effectively without
communication media in this digital world.
Ethiopia is a country of multicultural societies where different nations and nationalities have been living
together for a long period of time. Thus, all nations and nationalities need to promote and preserve their
cultures through different means. Accordingly, in this digital age it is very important to use different
digital communication technologies such as you tube, face book, twitter, telegram, imo, etc to promote
one’s own cultures in responsible and ethical way. For instance, we can promote the untold facts of our
culture such as language, way of life, cultural dressing, cultural food, arts, historical tourism sites, holiday
celebrities, etc to other societies and across the world through social media platforms.
However, digital technologies have not only positive impacts on one’s own culture. It has serious
negative impacts against one’s own culture if they are not used appropriately and in responsible
manner. Accordingly, using such technologies in a way deviated from our norms or moral values
and principles can lead to the cultural diffusion and destruction of indigenous values and norms of a
particular society. For example, as you can understand from figure 2.2. Below, inappropriate use of
digital technology can affect family relationships. Both husband and wife are too busy in using
their social media on their food and by ignoring their child.
Advantages of Technology in Culture Disadvantages of Technology in Culture
1. Bridging Cultural Divides and Connecting People 1. The Risk of Homogenizing Culture &E
Across Borders Cultural Differences
2. Improving Communication and Collaboration 2. The Threat to Traditional Cultural Pract
Across Cultures Heritage
3. Providing Access to Cultural Resources and 3. The Difficulty of Regulating Online Con
Information to a Wider Audience Protecting Cultural Sensitivities
4. Providing New Platforms for Cultural Expression 4. The Challenges of Maintaining C
and Creativity Divercssity in the Digital Age
5. Improving the Sharing of Cultural Experiences and 5. Relationships&human interaction are deval
Stories technologically driven cultures
6. Expanding Access to Art, Literature, Music, and
Cultural Heritage
LESSON ᎐3
2.3. The Purpose of digital technology
Now-a-days, digital technologies are part of our daily life activities. Many of us are using digital
technology like laptops, tablets, mobile phones and internet to easily, quickly and cost effectively
get different services. Using the digital technology for the right purpose helps us to undertake our
work more efficiently and effectively. The major purposes of digital technology in 21st century are
discussed below:
1) Social connection
2) Communication speed
3) Online learning opportunities
4) Digital marketing
LESSON 4
2.4. Codes of conduct for using digital technology
Using the right digital technology for the right purpose efficiently and effectively is the
burning issues in the current digital world. Using digital media in our day-to-day life must be
governed by set of ethical codes of conduct. Therefore, before using available social media
and other digital technologies, we have to identify their benefits and potential challenges to
our daily life.
Accordingly, the most common codes of conduct to be considered while using digital media for
communication, education, entertainment and etc, are:
• Use digital media for the good things such as solving community problems through awareness
creation on important issues.
• Use the information you got from using digital media as an input to improve your knowledge,
experiences and skills needed to improve your life.
• Ignore contents provoking political, religious, and sexual violence
• Treat others as you want to be treated
• Respect privacy and maintain confidentiality
• Avoid posting, sharing and following fake news
• Fighting fake news using digital media by exposing the facts
• Avoid remarks that may constitute defamation.
• Avoid posts degrading individual dignity.
• Acknowledge and correct mistakes promptly.
Use digital media in a away it cannot affect relationships among families and friends.
• Don’t use digital media in a way it cannot affect our study and working times.
• Free yourself from being addictive of using digital media.
LESSON _ 5
2.5. Effective communication through digital media
Communication is one of the most important ways to transfer and exchange messages and
information in our relation with others. It is the art and technique of informing, and influencing,
individuals, and the large audience about important issues in scientific and ethical methods.
Effectiveness of communication determines the success and failure for individual and collective goal
achievement. Digital media becomes the key strategy for effective communication.
The contribution of digital media to effective communication has improved because:
Internet has enabled easy exchange of information over long distances and accessing a web
page server in some far-off country.
Computers have enabled better storage and presentation of information, and have made the
process of teaching easier and more effective.
Mobile phones have enabled e-commerce by giving customers the option to transact via their
Mobile phones or Tablets and to perform specific tasks.
2.5.1 Challenges of using digital media
Thus, the main challenges that are involved in using this internet-based platform include:
1. Disregard for Ethical Values
The big challenge is that, the accuracy of the information is not controlled, and at times it can cause
various impacts to the society. Therefore, to use social media effectively in our day-to-day life we
have to use digital technology ethically in appropriate manner.
2. Fabrication of Fake News: Fake news refers to false reports or misinformation shared
in the form of articles, images, or videos which are seems as “real news” and aim to manipulate
people’s opinions.
3. Personal Privacy and Security Issues: It is very difficult to maintain privacy in
social media since they are public platforms anyone can easily access the personal
information of others. As a result of this, protecting individual privacy and keeping
information confidentially is at risk in the age of digital technologies.
4. Cyber Bullying: Cyber bullying occurs when a bully uses email, websites, or text
messaging to harass other people
5. Computer Hacking: the most common challenge for users of social media is computer
hacking. It refers to actions practiced by individuals, organizations, and nations, in order to
gain unauthorized access to computer and technology dependent systems.
Unit Review Exercises
Part I- True/False Questions
1. A digital culture is described by how technology and the internet are shaping the way we interact
as humans.
2. Without the use of digital devices and information communication technologies, life is becoming
difficult to lead.
3. The facilities of online education and the availability of interactive media have made the process
of learning so difficult.
4. Social media has so many positive sides that change people’s lives positively and it has no
drawbacks.
5. The use and importance of technology has become integral in our daily lives, for better or may be
for worse.
Part II- Multiple Choice Questions
1. All of the following includes digital technology, except one.
A. Facebook B. YouTube
C Instagram D. Postal service
2. Using online selling business allows customers to buy whenever they want, even when shop
doors are closed. This technology is called,
A. Banking B. Digital marketing
C. Online communication D. Cloud computing
3. ______________ is a platform sites or spaces of multi-directional, instantaneous communication.
A. Communication B. Social media
C. Digital media D. Internet website
4. Among the major challenges of using social media which one is facing all the most persons than
others?
A. Computer Hacking B. Cyber bullying
C. Privacy and Security D. None of the above.
5. Which one of the following code of conduct one has to follow while using digital technology in
day to day lives?
A. Respect the diversity of users
B. Treat others as you want to be treated
C. Avoid remarks that may constitute defamation
D. Acknowledge and correct mistakes promptly
E. None of the abov
